Collapsible barrel.



0. T. .GIROUL GOLLAPSIBLB BARREL.

APPLIUATIGN rILnD JULY 29. 1909.

Patente Feb;

ovILA '.r; Gmoux, 'or SALEM, ianssacnosn'r'rs.

COLLAPSIBLE BARREL.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Feb. 8,-1o1o.

Application filed July 29, 1909. Serial No. 510.'212A To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OviLA T. GIROUX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Barrels, of which the following is a specication.

The obJect of this invention is to provide a simple and comparatively cheap construcytion of a collapsible barrel or like receptacle.

The invention resides particularly 1n the specific construction of the barrel with relation to the manner of connecting the several parts and the mounting of the top and bottbm, the latter bein removable.

A feature of the invention of importance consists in the provision of a structure which is prevented from collapsing when the article is in use by means of the peculiar cooperation of the top and bottom with the body ofv the structure.l

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fi re l is a perspective View of a collapsi le barrel embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken about on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the barrel in collapsed condition and showing the bottom and top contained thereby and held from displacement.

Throughout the following detail description and on the several figures of the drawings similar parts are referred to by like re erence characters.

Describing the invention in detail it will be observed that albarrel constructed in accordance therewith consists of a body l, a top 2, and a bottom 3. The body of the barrel is composed of four main sections each of which is pivotally connected at rits opposite portions with the adjacent portions of certain of the sections, the pivotal connections consisting of the pivot rods 4. Each section of the body comprises a plurality of' vertically spaced members of curved form to conform with the general shape of the barrel which is round as customary. The several members 5 of each section of the barrel overlap the similar mem' bers of the adjacent sections as shown at 5 and the pivot rods 4 pass through the overlapped portlons 5 whereby to pivotally connect the sections of the barrel together. At their lower ends the rods 4 are provided with heads 4 while at the upper ends of the rods thumb nuts 6 are received.

. By reason of the pivotal connections between the several sections of the barrelit will be observed that the article may be readily collapsed by inward pressure on two opposite sections, .the parts assuming the positions shown in F ig. 4 when collapsed. Normally however, the barrel is heldin its open or operative condition by means of the bottom 3 and the top 2, said bottom being round and of a diameter' equal to the internal diameter of the body l of the barrel. The bottom 3 rests upon flanges 7 of two opposite members 5 of the barrel, being supported by said ilanges between certain other of the members 5 of the barrel sections, and thereby preventing said sections` from bein forced toward one another v'in order to co lapse the article. In other words the bottom 3 constitutes a stop at the bottom portion of the barrel preventing the collapsing of the sections eomprisin the members 5, and with respect to the ower end of the receptacle. At its upper end the barrel is prevented from being collapsed by means of the top or cover 2 which is provided With openings through which the rods 4 pass, and curved platesy 8 are secured against the upper side of the top 2 by means o the rods 4 and the thumb nuts 6 as shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. Of course when the top 2 is in position it rigidly holds the sections of the barrel apart preventing collapsing of the article at the upper end portion and thus cooperating with the bottom 3 to maintain the barrel comparatively rigid after it has been set up. When the barrel is collapsed the edge portions of the lianges 7 of certain members5' a1e in such proximity so as to prevent displacement of the cover and top 2 and the bottom 3 received between the sections of the barrel when the latter is knocked down and not in use.

It will be observed that a barrel constructed in accordance with this construction is thoroughly ventilated at all times and is especially adapted for the transportation' of fruit, vegetables or similar perishable articles as well as for various other purposes.

In order to prevent inward displacement of the bottom 3 from its normal position against the ianges 7 it is contemplated to provide projections l5a extending inwardly Jfrom opposite sections 5 of the body of the receptacle. The sections 5 have the projections 5fL which are located in a plane just above the plane of the bottom, and said bottom is formed with recesses at opposite points in its periphery, said recesses being adapted to register with the projections 5 in order that the bottom may be displaced. When -the barrel is in use the bottom 3 is turned by means of a handle or rib 3 on its lower side, and after said bottom has been disposed so as to rest on the flanges 7 the projections 5a and recesses 3 are caused to register in placing the bottom on the iianges 7, and when the bottom is turned the projections Will engage over lthe same and hold it firmly from movement.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new is A collapsible barrel comprising a plurality of interlocking sections, each section consisting of vertica ly spaced plates, said seams plates being substantially a quadrant, pivotal connecting rods piercingl the interlock# ing extremities' of the plates, and having the upper extremities projectin above the uppermost plates and threade a removable base adapted to rest on anges formed on the lowermost of said plates, a cover of approximately the same diameter as the barrel when expanded, having openings therein adapted to receive the projecting connecting rods and rigidify the barrel, and uppositely disposed clamping members y of a proximately the same construction as tie said plates also adapted to engage the projections of the projecting rods and to be held in place by thumb screws threaded on the extremities of said rods l In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ovILA T. GI'RoUX.

Witnesses GnnnoN TEssrEs, GIDEON PELLETIER. 

